Let's Be Honest

[QDOG5]

Mich St. might win the national title this year. UConn played them tough in the first half and kept it close for part of the second. Anyone expecting more is being unrealistic. It is VERY early but this team looks to be tourney quality. They should improve as they get more familiar with each other in game situations. If UConn beats Ark. and comes home 2-1 that is an excellent result. My last thought is that refereeing tends to even out over a season and unless it's a call to decide a game I wouldn't be too concerned about it. UConn will have some games where they are the beneficiary of the refereeing.

 

[Huskybass]

What is reality bass and what's wrong with willie's assessment? The fact that Winston played completely out of his a** or that we are just plain awful?

The reality is despite lots of talent, there hasn't been much of an offense since Shabazz left in 2014. We had four assists against Oregon and six assists and scored 57 points last night. That's the reality.

 

[mauconnfan]

The reality is despite lots of talent, there hasn't been much of an offense since Shabazz left in 2014. We had four assists against Oregon and six assists and scored 57 points last night. That's the reality.

The reality is you can find many JC coached teams who looked the same on many nights. But please don’t keep on that side of the line where your best comes out after a loss. That is also the reality

 

[ASweet3781]

UConn looked like they belonged for a good long stretch of the game. That's better than I expected going into the season. Heck, I assumed this game would be against DePaul.

I'll take wins over Oregon and Arkansas and a competitive 30 mins vs MSU coming into this year. Big game tomorrow. If this teams wants an at large it's the type of game we need to win.

 

[Huskybass]

The reality is you can find many JC coached teams who looked the same on many nights. But please don’t keep on that side of the line where your best comes out after a loss. That is also the reality

I highly doubt you will find any two game stretch under Calhoun where there were only 10 assists total. The offense has been stagnant and underwhelming for 3 plus seasons now. You cannot deny that.

The saddest part of the whole thing is we have 4 guys in Larrier Gilbert Adams and Vital who could each score 20 on any given night, yet we still get four assists or six assists and 57 points under this "offense".

 

[willie99]

Calhoun's teams started slower than just about any coach in the country, because he tore his players down before rebuilding them, and they had absolutely no freedom in his system

I loved it all, but year after year after year we were disappointed with our offense (if not our performance) until things started to click sometime after January 15th, at least when he had new squads. And Calhoun NEVER won with young teams either for that very same reason. It's why we went to the NIT every 4th or 5th year.

Two years ago we made the tournament and beat a good CO team in round one.

Last year we had DEVASTATING INJURIES, not even Jim Calhoun wins with that team. I'm shocked people actually have to be reminded about that, especially Uconn "FANS"

After the season, Ollie pushed the reset button, he knew he had to change directions, and I love everything that has transpired since that moment including the start of this season. The fact that people still use last year's INJURY PLAGUED season to mock this year's tram represents a total disconnect from "REALITY"

 

[champs99and04]

A few weeks ago I watched Michigan State and Duke play at the same timeI watched UConn play Colgate.

Duke and MSU appeared to be playing a whole other level of basketball. At the time I remember being sad that I hadn't seen UConn play at that level in quite some time. I also remembered thinking we would get smeared by teams at that level.

What I saw last night in UConn was a team that was already much improved from just two weeks ago. That bunch that struggled with toothpaste was down only 5 with the ball with 10 to go against that same MSU team that looked amazing against the top team in the nation.

Basically, my perception of this bunch now compared to just two weeks ago is much, much higher. I think we can at least play the same brand as the big dogs and make some noise come March.

I agree with this to an extent, as I had the same thought - that UConn was miles behind MSU and Duke - when I was flipping back and forth between those two games as well. I think I joked at the time, because I only get SNY in standard definition, that moving from one game to the other was like moving from SD and HD.

The questions for me:

1. Are Duke and MSU still playing at a different level of basketball? I would argue yes.

2. Is my perception any different than it was a few weeks ago? I think I'm a bigger believer in this team now, particularly with regard to their competitive spirit, basketball instincts, and overall ability to rejuvenate the fan base. It isn't just that they're better than last year, it's that they're more fun to watch. They have a pulse and now so does the fan base. That's a real thing that can't be quantified by our KenPom or RPI ranking.

But at the same time we shouldn't mistake those feelings of optimism for actual achievement, and we shouldn't allow our own desire to grade them on a curve to distort the more objective picture. We were 69th on KenPom before the season. We are currently 65th. We were a seven point underdog last night. We lost by 20. Things are rosier, but I think the sentimental side of us wants to believe the needle has moved further than it has. We're still basically where we started and whatever house money we were playing with last night is now gone. They've more or less played to expectation so far, or at least my expectations. My goal coming into the season was to start 4-0 and we did that. Hopefully they continue to build.

 

[Huskybass]

Calhoun's teams started slower than just about any coach in the country, because he tore his players down before rebuilding them, and they had absolutely no freedom in his system

I loved it all, but year after year after year we were disappointed with our offense (if not our performance) until things started to click sometime after January 15th, at least when he had new squads. And Calhoun NEVER won with young teams either for that very same reason. It's why we went to the NIT every 4th or 5th year.

Two years ago we made the tournament and beat a good CO team in round one.

Last year we had DEVASTATING INJURIES, not even Jim Calhoun wins with that team. I'm shocked people actually have to be reminded about that, especially Uconn "FANS"

After the season, Ollie pushed the reset button, he knew he had to change directions, and I love everything that has transpired since that moment including the start of this season. The fact that people still use last year's INJURY PLAGUED season to mock this year's tram represents a total disconnect from "REALITY"

Are you really trying to tout one tournament win in 3 seasons as an accomplishment? Sad.

UConn used to be a national power. Now 5th place in the AAC is the norm. Apparently you enjoy mediocrity much more than I do. The offense has been inept for 3 plus seasons. I am glad you have such low expectations, but some of us believe the program deserves better.

 

[gtcam]

Out coached how?

Because if he didn't say that he would lose his "gotta blame something on KO" card
I am surprised more of the KO bashers haven't been more vocal

KO could make every right decision and MSU would still beat the UConn team - need more bigs like MSU bigs

 

[willie99]

Are you really trying to tout one tournament win in 3 seasons as an accomplishment? Sad.

UConn used to be a national power. Now 5th place in the AAC is the norm. Apparently you enjoy mediocrity much more than I do. The offense has been inept for 3 plus seasons. I am glad you have such low expectations, but some of us believe the program deserves better.

The problem is you can't acknowledge progress. Are you naive enough to think we're going to go through what we did 6 months ago and be a top ten team already? Do you understand rebuilding is a process?

You think the team will suck because we sucked last year as you ignore the many reasons we sucked last year, with injuries being at the top of the list. You think it's all a dumpster fire, I don't.

I think the team is playing well and will exceed expectations and make the dance. The first step back up the ladder. And I'm sorry my more optimistic AND REALISTIC opinion angers you so much, I just can't help you with that.

 

[Excalibur]

Two years ago we made the tournament and beat a good CO team in round one.

Last year we had DEVASTATING INJURIES, not even Jim Calhoun wins with that team. I'm shocked people actually have to be reminded about that, especially Uconn "FANS"

After the season, Ollie pushed the reset button, he knew he had to change directions, and I love everything that has transpired since that moment including the start of this season. The fact that people still use last year's INJURY PLAGUED season to mock this year's tram represents a total disconnect from "REALITY"

If we are being completely honest, last year’s team lost to two low majors before anyone went down . . . People tend to lose sight of that in their impassioned defense.

 

[mauconnfan]

Because if he didn't say that he would lose his "gotta blame something on KO" card
I am surprised more of the KO bashers haven't been more vocal

KO could make every right decision and MSU would still beat the UConn team - need more bigs like MSU bigs

What's really fn funny about the "KO got out coached" idiots is they were also riding high when he "out coached" Izzo twice in the meetings prior, one in the regional finals where Izzo is usually the winner. A year of injuries and too many bad players playing and ONLY one victory in the NCAA tourney the year prior and now he can't handle Izzo. LOL such dopes around here.

This place is so predictable and the usual suspects so obvious it's become hard to even visit after a loss to anyone. How quickly they forget.

 

[Chief00]

Cobb has to put himself in better position to succeed. I know injuries happen but you also need to be in tip top condition to minimize the risk.

 

[David 76]

Cobb has to put himself in better position to succeed.

Like on the court?

 

[jibsey]

KO is going to run this pick and guard breakdown offense because that’s what he has to work with. Just making the NCAA is success for us this year and those who are dreaming of some kind of 2011 or 2014 run need to wake up.

 

[Chief00]

Because if he didn't say that he would lose his "gotta blame something on KO" card
I am surprised more of the KO bashers haven't been more vocal

KO could make every right decision and MSU would still beat the UConn team - need more bigs like MSU bigs

That goes though to recruiting Bigs and what type of system they see themselves in. I think KO has work to do there also.

 

[Sphinx]

The problem is you can't acknowledge progress. Are you naive enough to think we're going to go through what we did 6 months ago and be a top ten team already? Do you understand rebuilding is a process?

You think the team will suck because we sucked last year as you ignore the many reasons we sucked last year, with injuries being at the top of the list. You think it's all a dumpster fire, I don't.

I think the team is playing well and will exceed expectations and make the dance. The first step back up the ladder. And I'm sorry my more optimistic AND REALISTIC opinion angers you so much, I just can't help you with that.

I'm a bit concerned that in a "rebuilding" year, four of the teams first eight players are grad students or guys likely to turn pro in the spring. This could now become four of the first seven if Polley is allowed to fall though the cracks. Polley should be inked in at the 3 position and encouraged to hit the weight room and spend two hours a day in the gym shooting corner threes. But I am sure that KO will do whatever it takes to maximize wins this year, never mind future impact. This policy got him the NC in 2014 and a NCAA run in 2016, although it essentially aborted the career of Kentan Facey. (Hard to complain unless you're Kelis Fisher.) The danger this year is that he's got a number of young players who need playing time. I think of Polley, Whaley and Diarra in particular. It would be a shame if chasing a very limited rainbow this year results in these three guys showing up at practice next year as sophomore freshmen.

 

[Robertelamin]

Like on the court?

Kind of hilarious since Chief blamed Travis for all of our injury issues last year (including concussions) and now its Cobbs fault that he turned his ankle.

 

[Huskybass]

The problem is you can't acknowledge progress. Are you naive enough to think we're going to go through what we did 6 months ago and be a top ten team already? Do you understand rebuilding is a process?

You think the team will suck because we sucked last year as you ignore the many reasons we sucked last year, with injuries being at the top of the list. You think it's all a dumpster fire, I don't.

I think the team is playing well and will exceed expectations and make the dance. The first step back up the ladder. And I'm sorry my more optimistic AND REALISTIC opinion angers you so much, I just can't help you with that.

How can your expectations be so low? This is the fourth year in a row that this team looks bad against good competition. Sorry, but this team will never be very good again under Kevin Ollie. Some day you will realize what many of us realized a couple years ago. The "offense" under Ollie since Bazz graduated has been weak at best. If you were at all objective you would see that. Being mediocre year after year just doesn't cut it.

 

[TitleTown]

We knew we were not a top 10 team coming in.

However, we just went blow for blow with the number 4 team in America and given better breaks and better finishing it could've come down to the last few possessions.

I am more confident in this team today than I was three days ago.

Just wait till they gel.

HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

 

[polycom]

So who is going to write the check, let's be honest.

 

[Stainmaster]

So who is going to write the check, let's be honest.

Whatever check the Boneyard cuts, Mike Melio will cut an even bigger one to keep him around...